Push-button doorknob



M. T. HAYER PUSH BUTTON DOORKNOB Filed Sept. 1, 1921 ECIIIIIL' Inn-chic? MYFEON T. HAYER.

On. 2 mm lfIYR-O'N T; HAYEPi, 0F WORCESTER, M'ASSACH'USETTS.

PUSH -BUTT0N DOO'RKNOB.

Application filed September To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mrnonl: Haven, citizen oi": the United States, residing atiVorcester, in the county of Worcester and. State of Massachusetts, .have invented a new and useful Push-Button Doorknob, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a door knoband latch ot' the type in whichthe latch is operated by a push button in the center of the knob instead of by the rotation of the knob.

The principal objects of the invention are to improve the construction of. such knobs by providing simplified connections fromthe push buttons to the inside levers tor operating thelatch; by providing an arrange,- ment for assembling the parts by which there will be no necessity of using any screws.

from the outside 01 the device at all and,

which will eliminate all screw heads or'boltson the exterior surfaces; by providing ;a convenient construction by which the device cannot be dismounted from either side alone but must be reached tromboth sides in order to get it apart; by providing simple means by which only one spring is required and that one on the latch itself; and by providing improved lever constructions for operating the latch in opposition to the spring.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompany ing drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of a preferred em.- bodiment of this invention showing the latch casing in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a longltudinal central sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

I have shown the device as comprising a latch casing 10 set into the door 11 and provided with a fixed plate 12 on the end which can be set into a mortise on the edge of the door. As will appear later, this need not be fixed by screws or'bolts.

In the casing 10 there is the usual latch 13 having a rod 14: extending back in the.

casing and provided with a head 15 on the inner end slidable in the casing; On the bolt 1% is a spring 16 pressingagainst the rear of the latch atone endand against a stationary wall of. the casing: 10 ,at the other so as normally to hold the latch out in the position shown, for latching the door.

end 22 extending substantially '1, 1921;. Serial-.No. 497,486..

I haveshown the casinglO as-fixedlwith respect to two opposite inner casings 17 by screws 18 but these parts can be inadeit desired, sov as to be connected. positively witl out screws. In this'inner casing 17 are located a .pairot levers. 20; each. havinga convex head 21 and a projecting,operating at right angles to each other; .teature in mount-T in'g -the casing 17 on the casing 10 is to make the relation between theoperatin-g levers 20- andthe head 15 constant regardless-ofthe thickness of the door. Through a guide 23' integral with each casing 17 projects a plunger 24E whichl-ias an oblong cross-section throughout most of its length but has a circular cross-section atitsouter end that is screw threaded for a button 25,. The oblong cross-section of plunger 24 acts as a limit-stop for its outward motion and also prevents rotationthrough-the guide 28 when the button- 25. is screwed on.

By pushing in the push button the plunger 2 L engages the end 21 of the lever:

20 and forces the end 22 of the lever back-- against the front otthe head 15; This draws-back the bolt 14; against the actionqof the spring 16. These parts are duplicated on the other-side of thedoor.

Engaging the door on each side is a metal casing 26 which is hollow and of a general conical shape preferably; This houses the plunger 24 and-supports the stationary knob 27, and is so shaped that the guide piece 23 keeps it than if the knob is given a twist. This knob'has a plug 28 in its center which has a passage receiving the cylindrical part of the plunger 24; and its head closes the cylindrical recess in, whichthe push button 25 operates.-

This plug 28 is provided with two parallel passages through it, one of them screw threaded and the other 'having'a countersunk outer end. In these two passages. are; located the ends of two bolts v3O. These; bolts are placed oppositely, the head of one bolt beinglocatedin the. countersunk pas sageand the opposite end of the other bolt, screwing into the threaded passage. These passageson the other side of the door are,

arranged in the opposite manner.

IOU

Vfhenthe device is set up, one of the bolts 30 is put in inpone :diiectionand screwed in so as, to. hold. both knobs in; position and the other, bolt is inserted in the other direction from the other side of the door. /Vhen both are secured in this way it will be seen that it is, impossible to dis lodge or loosen the parts from one side only. Que bolt can be taken out from one side but the other cannot be and it will be Suthcient to hold the parts together for ordinary purposes. The push buttons 25, screwing as they do on the plungers 24, can be detached very readily and removed with equal readiness but that does not expose the door knob in such a way as to permit the whole thing being removed from one side.

It is to be observed that the whole thing, including the latch, is held in place by the two bolts 30, both of these being internal and entirely unexoosed. Therefore, there is 'no need of placing any screws through the lat flanges at the bottom of the casing 26 or even through the plate 12. Although screws may be used in the latter, it desired, all other external screws are eliminated. The passages in the casings 1'? through which the bolts 30 are inserted are made conical so as to guide these bolts in readily and shorten the time required for attachinent.

It will be seen also that the plunger 24 is guided accurately and centered so that, no matter where the levers 20 may be located, the plunger is always in the right position and it cannot bind at the end but is selfcentering. It will be seen that each push button will work to withdraw the latch inde pendently of the other or of its condition. The device involves few parts and is capable or being constructed by ordinary operations involving comparatively small expense. In addition to this the device possesses all the advantages of the usual push button door knob.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention, 1 am aware of the fact that modifications can be made in the details of construction without departing from the scope of the inveutil-G11 as expressed in the claims.

Therefore, do not wish to be limited to all the de t-llb' of construction herein shown and described, but what l do claim is:-

1. In a push button door knob, the combination of a pair of knobs located opposite each other, a pair of bolts connecting said knobs and extending through the door, each bolt having a head at one end and a thread at the other, said bolts extending through the door in opposite directions, each bolt being connected with one knob by its head and with the other knob at its opposite screw threaded end, whereby the knobs cannot be released from each other from one side of the door alone.

2. In a push button door knob, the combination of a pair of stationary knobs loraraeoa at its opposite end which is screw-threaded,

each knob having a recess in its outer side and a guide opening between the bolts, a plunger in said guide opening, a latch, means by which either plunger can operate the latch,- each plunger having a screw threaded outer end, and a push button detachably screwed on each screw threadet end and closing the outer face oi. the knob.

3. in a push button door knob, the com bination with pair o1. knobs, a push button on each knob, and a plunger adapted to be operated by each button, of a casing having an opening for a plunger and pro vided with an opening therethrough having walls inside gradually sloping toward each other for selr centering purposes, and a bolt passing through said opening and securing the two knobs directly to each other.

1-. In a push button door knob, the coinbination'with a door having a single pas sage therethrough, of a pair of hollow casings for engaging the opposite sides of the door to cover said passage, knobs on the opposite sides of said casings, said knobs each having a passage therethrough, a plunger centrally located in each knob and extending into said passage in the door, a bolt passing all the way through both casings and the passage in the door and into both knobs said bolt being located at the side oli'the center and securing both knobs to the door and to each other in fixed posi tion, a push button supported by each knob,

and a latch arranged to be operated by each push button through its plunger independently of the other.

5. ln a, push button door knob, the coin bination with aspring pressed latch, of a pair of stationary knobs on opposite sides of the door in axial alignment with each other, a push button. movable in each knob, a plunger positively connected with and movable with each push button, a pair of independent levers pivoted inside the door casing independently of said knobs and having two arms substantially at right angles to each other, one of which each plunger engages, and means connected with said latch, and at a constant distance from the points of pivotal support of the levers irrespective of the thickness of the door, for receive ing the end of either lever and withdrawing the latch when either lever is pressed againstit by its plunger.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto atfixed my signature.

MYRON T. BAYER. 

